MV Oktavia Overview

Boat rating : 9/10 Based on20 divers

Read all MV Oktavia reviews

Type: Liveaboard

Departs from: Khao Lak.

No. of guests: 20

Prices from:
15,300 THB per diver

MV Oktavia is a Similan Islands Liveaboard, Khao Lak based dive boat which offers wonderful liveaboard tours for divers as well as non-divers and even children. She is almost 30 metres in length and offers comfortable and spacious diving cruise trips at very competitive prices. The Swedish owners run a small professional team and ensure that every trip to the Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock is as safe and comfortable as possible. Although the boat is designed for up to thirty three guests, each trip is normally limited to just twenty in order to maximize the comfort and convenience for all on board. Nitrox fills are available. MV Oktavia has large and spacious master cabins as well as double and twin standard cabins, a large dive platform and a sun deck. There are hot water showers throughout, with the master cabins enjoying private en suite bathrooms. All passengers will enjoy air-conditioning and privacy at night, with somewhere to relax alone or socialize between dives and in the evenings. As well as offering the best diving experiences possible, the staff and crew appreciate the need for guests to visit beaches, take walks on the islands and snorkel in the warm and crystal-clear shallows. There’s always something to do and see for those who don’t dive, as well as those who want to do as much as possible between dives.

The best Similan diving liveaboard trips can be difficult to choose due to trip lengths and schedules. However, MV Oktavia has a novel solution. Most of the cruises are five days and five nights in length, but there is an option to only go out for two or three days. This is simply done by speedboat transfer to or from the ship which stays out at sea for the full five. One option is to sail out on MV Oktavia at the beginning of the dive cruise and return on a speedboat after two days and nights at the Similan Islands. The alternative is to take the speedboat out for the second half of the cruise, which visits Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and Boonsung Wreck on a 3D/2N 10-dive itinerary. The speedboat journey is usually 1.5 hours. Those who are lucky enough to enjoy the complete 5D/5N cruise visit all the locations and get to dive 19 times. At the beginning and end of the season, Oktavia offers 4D/4N 15 dive trips which are comparable to most other liveaboard trips offered on our other boats.

A couple of other things which make Oktavia standout among its competitors are the itinerary beginning and the equipment storage. Firstly, the start of most liveaboard diving trips involves being taken to, or meeting at, the dive centre to complete paperwork and fit equipment. This can be a frustrating time for those who just want to get onto the boat and set sail. It also means that most boats which do this sail late into the night. Oktavia guests are taken straight to the boat and she sets sail earlier than most others, meaning that by the time most guests are settling down for their first night'ssleep on board, the ship has already reached its destination and there is less noise and movement to disrupt sleep. “What about the equipment?” some may ask. Well, due to Oktavia’s large size and small number of guests on each trip, there is plenty of space aboard in their equipment room to keep everything on the ship, ensuring that there’s no wasted time and always a spares available in the right size, just in case. Guests who need to pay the trip balance by credit card or have any other special circumstances will need to visit the dive centre in Khao Lak, and there are also those who will actually want to visit, but it’s not necessary.

The Oktavia staff and management pride themselves on being absolutely honest and efficient in every piece of information they give customers, both before and after a booking is complete. Unlike many other boats in the region, Oktavia guarantee that each trip (Nov-Apr) will depart, regardless of how many guests have booked to join. This is especially comforting for those who want to book far in advance. It is not unheard of for customers on other boats to have their trip cancelled by the dive centre because not enough paying guests booked to make the trip financially feasible. That doesn't happen on Oktavia.

Life rafts (40 pax), dinghy, emergency oxygen, first aid kit, life rings, fire extinguishers, high water alarm, CCTV-monitored dive deck, crew equipped with radio, first aid trained staff, partner of SSS Recompression Chamber Network. All cabins have sliding doors for easy evacuation. Life vests (sizes XXXS - XXXL) are handed out at cruise beginning to ensure guests have the correct size and are aware of its location in the cabin.

All Blue Ocean Cabins have central air-conditioning and are equipped with fan, reading lights, shelf unit, two large panorama windows, electrical outlets, sheets and towels. On fully booked cruises, single travelers may have to share a 2-bed cabin with a guest of the same gender. The master suites are located on the upper deck, feature individual air-conditioning in addition to fan, double bed, desk / dressing table, two arm chairs, en-suite shower / toilet, hardwood floor, flat screen TV with DVD and a min-fridge. They span over the width of the boat and have panorama windows both port and starboard. The suites are ideal for families.

Lots of comfortable seating, large sun deck, media-PC and LCD-TV, DVD-and CD-player, bar. Three main meals and snacks are served as buffets and always include a vegetarian dish.

Courses

MV Oktavia Courses

SSI & some PADI courses are easily taught on Oktavia liveaboard trips. In fact, it's the ideal place to take part in one. There are plenty of options available, from a one or two dive mini-course, such as Deep Adventure Dive, to an Open Water Diver course for those who have never dived before. Prices start at just 1,500THB. The most popular diving course on an Oktavia liveaboard trip is the SSI Advanced Adventurer (commonly known as the AOW) course. This is 5 interesting and exciting dives with a fully-qualified instructor. Nitrox (enriched-air diving) is also popular, as is one or two Discover Scuba Diving dives for those who just want to try scuba diving. Take a look at the table below, and feel free to contact us with any questions, even for something you don't see listed. Please note, that the dives of a course do not add to the total number of dives on the cruise. For example, an AOW course will combine your cruise dives and course dives. However, the difference is that you get to spend your time underwater with an instructor, often to yourself, and get all the PADI certification and materials.

Taking part in a diving course on Oktavia shouldn't take away any of the fun & relaxation on board. Therefore, we recommend online learning, so that you can prepare for your course and finish most of the theory before you arrive. There is no extra fee for this for SSI courses.

Courses

Courses

Prices

SSI: Adventure Dive (ex. Deep)

1,500 THB

SSI: Try Dive

1,500 THB

SSI: Scube Refresher

1,500 THB

PADI: Adventure Diver

Including: teaching materials, equipment and certification

1,500 THB

SSI: Try Dive x2

2,500 THB

PADI: Emergency First Response

Including: teaching materials, equipment and certification

4,550 THB

SSI: Speciality Course

6,000 THB

PADI: Speciality Course

Including: teaching materials, equipment and certification

6,500 THB

SSI: Advanced Adventurer

7,000 THB

PADI: Enriched Air Diver Course

Including: 5 tanks of Nitrox to use in course & all teaching materials, equipment and certification

7,500 THB

PADI: Advanced Open Water Course

Including: teaching materials, equipment and certification

8,500 THB

PADI: Rescue Diver Course

Including: teaching materials, equipment and certification

10,000 THB

PADI: Divemaster Internship

80,000 THB

Itinerary

MV Oktavia Itinerary

2D2N, 4D4N & 5D5N trips offer a beach visit, normally to Island #8 (Donald Duck Bay). The destinations for 3D2N trips have no beaches open to the public.

All times and sites are subject to change due to weather and sea conditions.

The itineraries below are the most-common for each trip, but these can sometimes be changed for a number of reasons. Small changes are made due to weather & sea conditions, special marine life sightings, overcrowded dive sites, local-authorities' instructions, and the needs & requests of the paying guests. The safety & comfort of all guests is most important at all times.

Click on an itinerary below for detailed information

MV Oktavia ITINERARY

Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck

5 Days / 5 Nights (19 dives)

Time

Activity

Location

Departure Day

14:30:00 - 16:15:00

Scheduled transfers from around Phuket (Fees depend on number of guests and pickup location)

16:15:00 - 17:30:00

Free scheduled transfers from most Khao Lak hotels

18:00:00

General boat & safety briefing, cabin allocation, & dinner on board

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

18:30:00

MV Oktavia sails into the sunset

Day 1

07:30:00

Dive 1

Similan Island 4, 5 or 6

09:00:00

Breakfast

10:30:00

Dive 2

Similan Island 7

12:00:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 3

Similan Island 7

15:30:00

Beach visit

Similan Island 4

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 4 (night or sunset dive)

Similan Island 8

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 2

07:30:00

Dive 5

Elephant Head Rock

09:00:00

Breakfast

10:30:00

Dive 6

Similan Island 9

12:00:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 7

Similan Island 9

15:30:00

Beach visit

Similan Island 8

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 8 (night or sunset dive)

Similan Island 8

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 3

07:15:00

Dive 9

Similan Island 9

09:30:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 10

Koh Bon

12:30:00

Lunch

14:00:00

Dive 11

Koh Bon

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 12 (night or sunset dive)

Koh Tachai

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 4

07:00:00

Dive 13

Richelieu Rock

09:30:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 14

Richelieu Rock

12:30:00

Lunch

14:00:00

Dive 15

Richelieu Rock

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 16 (night or sunset dive)

Koh Tachai

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 5

07:15:00

Dive 17

Koh Tachai

09:30:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 18

Koh Bon

12:30:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 19

Boonsung Wreck

17:30:00

Arrival at pier

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

17:30:00 - 19:00:00

Transfers back to Khao Lak hotels for free, and to Phuket for a small fee

MV Oktavia ITINERARY

Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck

4 Days / 4 Nights (15 dives)

Time

Activity

Location

Departure Day

14:30:00 - 16:15:00

Scheduled transfers from around Phuket (Fees depend on number of guests and pickup location)

16:15:00 - 17:30:00

Free scheduled transfers from most Khao Lak hotels

18:00:00

General boat & safety briefing, cabin allocation, & dinner on board

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

18:30:00

MV Oktavia sails into the sunset

Day 1

07:30:00

Dive 1

Similan Island 4, 5 or 6

09:00:00

Breakfast

10:30:00

Dive 2

Similan Island 7

12:00:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 3

Similan Island 7

15:30:00

Beach visit

Similan Island 4 or 8

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 4 (night or sunset dive)

Similan Island 8

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 2

07:30:00

Dive 5

Similan Island 9

09:00:00

Breakfast

10:30:00

Dive 6

Koh Bon

12:00:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 7

Koh Bon

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 8 (night or sunset dive)

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Koh Bon

Day 3

07:15:00

Dive 9

Richelieu Rock

09:30:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 10

Richelieu Rock

12:30:00

Lunch

14:00:00

Dive 11

Richelieu Rock

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 12 (night or sunset dive)

Koh Tachai

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 4

07:00:00

Dive 13

Koh Tachai

09:30:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 14

Koh Bon

12:30:00

Lunch

14:00:00

Dive 15

Boonsung Wreck

17:30:00

Arrival at pier

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

17:30:00 - 19:00:00

Transfers back to Khao Lak hotels for free, and to Phuket for a small fee

MV Oktavia ITINERARY

Similan Islands

2 Days / 2 Nights (7 dives)

Time

Activity

Location

Departure Day

14:30:00 - 16:15:00

Scheduled transfers from around Phuket (Fees depend on number of guests and pickup location)

16:15:00 - 17:30:00

Free scheduled transfers from most Khao Lak hotels

18:00:00

General boat & safety briefing, cabin allocation, & dinner on board

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

18:30:00

MV Oktavia sails into the sunset

Day 1

07:30:00

Dive 1

Similan Island 4, 5 or 6

09:00:00

Breakfast

10:30:00

Dive 2

Similan Island 7

12:00:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 3

Similan Island 7

15:30:00

Beach visit

Similan Island 4

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 4 (night or sunset dive)

Similan Island 8

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 2

07:30:00

Dive 5

Elephant Head Rock

09:00:00

Breakfast

10:30:00

Dive 6

Similan Island 9

12:00:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 7

Similan Island 9

15:00:00

Speedboat transfer from Oktavia to Tab Lamu Pier

16:45:00

Arrival at pier

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

17:00:00 - 19:00:00

Transfers back to Khao Lak hotels for free, and to Phuket for a small fee

MV Oktavia ITINERARY

Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck

3 Days / 2 Nights (10 dives)

Time

Activity

Location

Day 1

6:45:00 - 7:30:00

Free scheduled transfers from most Khao Lak hotels

Khao Lak

08:00:00

Depart by speedboat

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

09:30:00

Arrival at Oktavia

Koh Bon

11:00:00

Dive 1

Koh Bon

12:30:00

Lunch

14:00:00

Dive 2

Koh Bon

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 3 (night or sunset dive)

Koh Tachai

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 4

07:00:00

Dive 4

Richelieu Rock

09:30:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 5

Richelieu Rock

12:30:00

Lunch

14:00:00

Dive 6

Richelieu Rock

17:30:00 / 18:30:00

Dive 7 (night or sunset dive)

Koh Tachai

20:00:00

Dinner on board

Day 5

07:15:00

Dive 8

Koh Tachai

09:30:00

Breakfast

11:00:00

Dive 9

Koh Bon

12:30:00

Lunch

14:15:00

Dive 10

Boonsung Wreck

17:30:00

Arrival at pier

Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak

17:30:00 - 19:00:00

Transfers back to Khao Lak hotels for free, and to Phuket for a small fee

Transfers

MV Oktavia Transfer Details

New for 2017-18, Oktavia guests can enjoy free scheduled Khao Lak transfers before and after the trip, on the day of departure and return. For 2D, 4D & 5D trips this includes pickups from Phuket (for a nominal fee) as well as Khao Lak. 3D/2N trips leave in the morning from Khao Lak, and therefore guests need to spend the night before departure in a Khao Lak hotel or guesthouse.

Please contact us for details, such as pickup times for your chosen location.

MV Oktavia Scheduled Transfers

2D / 2N, 3D / 3N, 4D / 4N, 5D / 5N Trips

13:00 - 06:30

Pick up from Phuket :
400 THB

15:45 - 17:30

Pick up from Khao Lak :
Free

18:30

Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak )

17:00

Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak )

17:00 - 18:00

Drop off to Khao Lak :
Free

17:00 - 19:00

Drop off to Phuket : 400
THB

MV Oktavia Scheduled Transfers

3D/2N Trips

06:45 - 07:50

Pick up from Khao Lak :
Free

08:00

Departure ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak )

17:00

Return ( Tab Lamu Pier, Khao Lak )

17:00 - 18:00

Drop off to Khao Lak :
Free

17:00 - 19:00

Drop off to Phuket :
Free

For customers who would like a private taxi please see below for details.

(Click below for a rough guide to the rates you can expect to pay ‘per vehicle,’ not ‘per person’.)

We don’t ask for any payment or your card details until you are ready to confirm your booking.

For safety reasons, it’s impossibleto complete a booking instantly online, as some other websites claim to offer. We always check first as each boat has a different criteria regarding diver details & experience.

We offer each boat’s booking & payment policy (below). Some other websites have standardised terms, asking for full payment but many boats’ payment terms are a 20-30% deposit, and the balance paid on arrival.

Our Thailand-based staff are experts about logistics, the dive sites & all the boats. Take a look at the reviews on our site & tripadvisor.

Our team are always online to answer your questions. We always respond the same day, usually within a few minutes

Customer service is everything!

For example, if a trip is cancelled, we will ensure you can choose between an alternative similar trip or a full & unconditional refund.

MV Oktavia: Booking Procedure / Terms & Conditions:

The booking process for MV Oktavia is very simple and convenient. Firstly, ask us to reserve a space in your chosen cabin on your preferred dates. Then, when you are ready to confirm, we ask for 30% of the cruise price as a deposit. This payment is most-commonly made via PayPal, and there are no fees at all for you, the customer. You don't even need a Paypal account, although PayPal do encourage you to open one. The invoice can be sent to any email address and payment can be made by anyone.The 70% balance and extras, such as national marine park fees and maybe equipment hire or other items, can be paid when you arrive in Khao Lak or on board the boat. Only cash payments can be taken on the boat, but both cash and card payments can be made at Oktavia's dive centre. Card payments attract 3% bank fees. Although extras such as park fees, Nitrox fills and equipment hire must be paid on arrival, we are able to take trip balance and course payments via PayPal before your trip. These payments normally attract bank fees similar to those at the dive centre.

Cancellation Policy:

Oktavia is one of the most flexible dive centres when it comes to customer cancellations. There are times when customers cancel a booked trip without penalty. However, the official cancellation policy is as follows.90+ days before daeprture - full refund of your deposit, minus any bank fees.30-90 days before departure - 25% of the cruise price forfeited, and the balance refunded, minus any bank fees.7-29 days before departure - 50% of the cruise price forfeited, and the balance refunded, minus any bank fees.0-6 days before departure - the whole cruise price is forfeited.

I consent to www.similandivingtours.com (No Troubles Just Bubbles LTD.,PART.) to collect & store data entered in this form for purposes described in our Privacy Policy

Username:Confirm Username:

Send a copy to your email

Genuine MV Oktavia Reviews

Read real reviews from people who have dived with MV Oktavia

Jens

Divers Nationality: German

Dive date: 04 April 2019

Boat rating: 10/10

Was my first liveaboard tour and one of the most relaxing things I ever did. The booking is super convenient and easy with a direct, very personal contact to Jamie. Questions are answered very quickly and precisely. The crew on board is helpfu
l and friendly, the cabins cosy and the dives were wonderful. Victor was a very relaxed and competent dive master and made the dives really enjoyable. Repetition probability: 100%...read more

Stefano Fantoni

Divers Nationality: Italian

Dive date: 11 March 2019

Boat rating: 9/10

I had a fantastic experience with the MV Oktavia !! I choose the 5D/5N package (March 11-16), and the trip was worth every $. Jamie set a new benchmark in organizing the logistics (super quick answers via email, always detailed and easy to follow), t
he dive masters on board are very friendly and competent and took excellent care of all of us (thx Fernando !!!). During the dives I saw Mantas, Whale Sharks and plenty more, starting from the check dive till the end of the trip it is a true pleasure to dive in the Similian. The boat is very comfortable and spacious, with plenty of space for socializing or simply enjoy the wonderful environment. Food is very tasty and abundant and also special dietary requirements are properly taken care of. The Thai crew doesn't speak English but they more than compensate with big smiles, an happy attitude and their willingness to help. Overall a wonderful experience, that I would highly recommend to anybody keen on diving and having a great time. THANKS AGAIN to the full Oktavia team !! :o)...read more

Andy

Divers Nationality: British

Dive date: 11 March 2019

Boat rating: 8/10

Overall a great liveaboard. Well organized, both before, during and after the boat trip. Locations have great diversity, from Macro to Whale Sharks and Mantas. Accommodation is basic - but good enough for 4-5days. Food is plentiful - with choic
es, but got a little monotonous....read more

Pero

Divers Nationality: Croatian

Dive date: 29 December 2018

Boat rating: 9/10

Loved the whole trip! Excellent instructor and the team on the boat.

Sune

Divers Nationality: Swedish

Dive date: 18 November 2018

Boat rating: 7/10

Well organized trip with professional diveguiding, good Thai food and servicemindes deckstaff.

Michael Nekludov

Divers Nationality: Swedish

Dive date: 18 November 2018

Boat rating: 9/10

We had an excellent diving trip with Octavia - a large group of 22 divers was successfully accomodated aboard, and we visited Similan Islands, Richelieu Rock and Surin Islands. We performed four dives daily in seven days, most of us on Nitrox. The cr
ew provided excellent service and were always very friendly. Good Thai food x4 daily. The guides were knowledgable and well organized. We saw lots of marine life - all from tiny odd creatures as Dragonet fish, Porcelaine crab etc. to magnificent Whale shark!...read more

N1n

Divers Nationality: Swedish

Dive date: 18 November 2018

Boat rating: 9/10

Steady Big bokat with good space Accomodation ok but could be excellent if carpet on cabins were removed and instead som Wood flooring Food great divemasters excellent and the boat is good!!

Pedro escamilla

Divers Nationality: Mexican

Dive date: 05 March 2018

Boat rating: 10/10

Realmente fantastico

FLO

Divers Nationality: French

Dive date: 03 February 2018

Boat rating: 10/10

We have spent a diving/snorkeling trip beggining of february 2018 for 5 nights and we ve had a great time! Amazing diving spots, amazing crew/team and dive guides, great food....Would sure come back if we have the opportunity!! Great time!!

Mary & Stan

Divers Nationality: American

Dive date: 28 January 2018

Boat rating: 8/10

Very nice & competent staff! Would have liked whole grain bread instead of white bread. This is a serious dive boat but they were very nice to us snorkelers. Our guide Fernando was excellent! The food & accommodations were a little rugged but they
the service & staff were excellent, and that’s the main point. Plenty of opportunity to dive or snorkel to your heart’s content, & the Similans are beautiful!...read more